Eggington feels no pressure for knockout (From Halesowen News)

Eggington feels no pressure for knockout

6:00pm Friday 22nd February 2013 in Local Sport

SAM Eggington says he feels no pressure to deliver a knockout performance this Sunday.

The 19-year-old welterweight faces Newark’s Vaclav Skromach at Birmingham’s HMV Institute in his first fight since his blistering appearance on Prizefighter last month.

Though Eggington suffered a maiden defeat to Dale Evans in front of the Sky Sports cameras, his all-action, fearless style drew rave reviews.

The former Warley amateur, one of the youngest professionals in the country, had won his first three paid bouts on points but is still searching for his first stoppage success.

Skromach has lost all eight of his professional fights but Eggington says he is happy to take any victory, no matter the form.

He said: “It’s strange because a lot of people around me are expecting me to stop him but I don’t see it. I’ve been told the more I relax the harder I punch.

“So that’s what I’m going to try and do.

“I’ve got to pace myself. If the knockout comes it comes but if it doesn’t I’m not too fussed.

“It’s a big fight for me in the fact I’m coming off a loss and I want to get back to winning ways.

“There is no chance of me taking this lightly.

“You have to treat every fight as if it’s the most important of your career.”

Eggington revealed his Prizefighter showing has led to increased interest in his career, though the unemployed forklift truck driver admitted it was yet to translate into a huge increase in ticket sales.

He also has no plans of moving up to light-middleweight in the near future, as had been suggested by some in the sport.

He said: “I think because people see my age they expect me to move up because I’m still growing.

“But I’m going to try and stay at welter for as long as I can.

“I’m dedicated to my training and I’ve really sorted out my diet.

“I’ve no problem with moving up but I feel comfortable with where I am at the moment.”